Card or sheet platen for type-writing machines.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

H. F. EGKBRT. 7 (mm) 0R SHEET PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 I u I I I I I I.

APPLIUATIOH FILED 11017.16, 1900.

whine/way elite onus PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

H. F. EGKERT.

GARDOR SHEET PLATBN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.-

, APPLICATION FILED NOV-16, 1900.

H0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903..

H. F. EOKERT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1900.

CARD 0R SHEET PLATEN FO-RTYPB WRITING MACHINES.

no MODEL.

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PATENTED SEPT. 1

H. P. EGKERT.

CARD OR SHEET PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION. FILED NOV. 16, 1900.

4 QHEETS-SHEET 4..

N0 MODEL.

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UNiTED STATES Fatented September 1, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN F. EOKERT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO. ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CARD 0R SHEET PLATEN FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,721, datedSeptember 1, 1903.

Application filed November 16, 1900. Serial No. 36,733. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN F. EOKERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Card or Sheet Platen for Type-VVritingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to type-writing machines, and has specialreference to an improved card or sheet platen designed to facilitate thehandling of card or sheet work.

To this end the invention contemplates the complete equipment of a Hatplaten for typewriting machines with improved means to provide for theconvenient and accurate manipulation of the work, whether in card orsheet form, although the same possesses special valueincard-printinginvolving the printing of any desired data uponindex-cards.

lndex cards and similar work vary in size, shape, thickness, and ruling,according to the purpose for which they are adapted, and the presentinvention meets these diiferent requirements by providing means forinsuring an accurate printing upon the card or sheet, irrespective ofits size or shape. In this connection one of the important objects ofthe invention is to associate with the platen holding guides orguideways for the work, which are automatically adjustable or variableto accommodate themselves to diiferent thicknesses of sheets or cards,while at the same time not interfering with their function of providingguiding and holding means for the work.

Another object of the invention is to equip the platen with an improvedstop device whose main or entire function is to locate the card or sheetaccurately in the guide or guideways at the proper printing-point, sothat when the machine is slid back to the stops provided therefor thesame is in a position for printing on the first or any line of writingwithout the necessity of stopping to locate the line by the use of theline-spacer or line-finder or the shifting of the machine.

A further object along this line is to provide a stop device whose stopelement or elements are of a disappearing form, or, in other words,which automatically move out of the way after a card or sheet is locatedin its printing position and which may be conveniently thrown into thepath of the work when the latter is shoved into position.

The invention also has in view the provision of improved machine-stopsfor arresting the type-Writing machine in position for the first line ofwriting without resorting to the ordinary expedients for accomplishingthis result.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention to effect the carrying out ofthe objects specified are necessarily susceptible to a wide range ofmodification without departing from the spirit or scope thereof; but thepreferred embodiments of the improvements are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a card or sheetplaten for type writing machines equipped with the improvementscontemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view ofthe same, showing more plainly the mounting and relative arrange ment ofthe stop device and the adjustable trip for the printed cards or sheets.Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the platen, showingin full and dotted lines the active and inactive positions of the stopelement or elements of the stop device. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar View on the line 5 5of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig.2, showing more clearly the mounting of the adjustable guide having arange of adjustment substantially coextensive with the transverse widthof the platen. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of one of theholding-guides and its attached parts. Fig. 8 is a detail in perspectiveof a section of the stop device, showing one of the swinging stopelements. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of a modified form of theself-adjusting holding-guide. Fig. 10 is a cross-secby thereference-numeral 1.

tional view of the form of guide shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detailplan view of another form of self-adjusting holding-guide. Fig. 12 is adetail cross-sectional View of the form of holding-guide shown in Fig.11. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on theline 13 13 of Fig. 5. Fig. 14 is asimilar view on the line 14 14 of Fig. 5.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin the severalfigures of the drawings.

The improvements forming the subjectmatter of the present applicationare especially designed for use in connection with the flat platen of abook type-writing machine and possesses special utility with the type ofplaten shown in the drawings and designated This platen is of the samegeneral nature as the flat platen used--for instance, in connection withthe Fisher book-type-writing machine, a type of which is exemplified inthe patent to R. J. Fisher, No. 573,868and the general purpose of theinvention is the same as that disclosed in the pending application of H.J.Halle,Serial No. 732,921, filed October 7, 1899. A detail descriptionof the platen and the use thereof in connection with the travelingprinting mechanism is therefore deemed unnecessary; but it may beobserved in this connection that the improvements contemplated by thepresent case render the platen distinctively one for card or sheet workand which may be permanently equipped for that purpose.

With this end in view it may be found desirable to provide the platen atthe under side thereof with a plurality of pendent rest-feet 2, adaptedto rest upon any suitable machinesupport which will permit of asufficient elevation of the platen so as not to interfere with theturning or flopping over of the work in the manner hereinafterdescribed. The platen 1 has associated therewith the usual track-railsor machine-guides 3, which in a permanently-equipped platen for cardorsheet work are designed to be fastened to the upper side of the platenat the opposite side edges thereof, always in position for guiding thetraveling printing mechanism over the platen, although it will of coursebe understood that the invention may be carried out in connection withthe detachable machine rails or guides which are utilized in someembo'di-,

ments of the Fisher book-type-writing machines.

The invention contemplates the employment of holding-guides arranged inone or more pairs in proper relation to the traveling printing mechanismand its platen and having guiding and holding means for the edges of thecard or sheet, whereby'the work may not only be guidedto and held in theproper position for being printed upon, but-will also be guided beyondthe temporary printing area of the platen, which area necessarily variesaccording to the length of the holdingguides and the intervaltherebetween.

For illustrative purposes a pair of holdingguides 4 4 are shown in thedrawings, said guides being arranged longitudinally of the platen overthe upper writing-surface thereof and disposed in substantialparallelism, so that whatever the relative-distance may be between theguides the printing area of the platen will necessarily be locatedtherebetween. The holding-guides 4 4 may be mounted in any suitablemanner upon the platen; but there is disclosed in the present case anovel way of mounting these guides whereby the same are widelyadjustable to take in a large range of work. In other words, provisionis made whereby substantially the entire transverse width of the platenor any fraction thereof may be utilized as the printing area, accordingto the size of the card or sheet to be printed upon. This wide range ofadjustment may be accomplished by fixedly positioning one of the guides4 contiguous to one edge of the platen and alongside of one of themachine rails or guides 3, while the other holding-guide 4 is capable ofa transverse adjustment between the fixed guide 4 and the oppositemachine-rail 3 at the opposite side edge of the platen. The

guiding and holding of the widely-adjustable,

holding-guide 4 is shown in the drawings as preferably effected throughthe medium of a slide-stem 5, rigidly united by fasteners or othersuitable means, as at 6, to the adjustable holding-guide 4 at orcontiguous to the front end thereof. The said slide-stem 5 projectslaterally from the adjustable holdingguide 4 and slidably registerswithin the guiding-channel 7, formed longitudinally in the upper side ofthe transverse guide-bar 8, arranged at the front edge of the platen 1and extending transversely from side to side thereof. The said guide-bar8 is held rigidly in a fixed position at the front edge of the platen byany suitable means, but preferably by being fastened or otherwisesuitably secured, as at 9, to the front extremities of theoppositely-located machinerails 3, as plainly shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. In addition to the guiding-channel formed longitudinally inthe upper side thereof the said guide-bar 8 is provided in its lowerside with a longitudinally-disposed slot 10, which receives abinding-screw 11, engaging in a threaded opening in the slide-arm 5 andwhich when tightened serves to lock or hold the said stem withintheguiding-channel therefor. By loosening the screw 11 from the underside of the guide-bar 8 the said screw may be moved along within theslot 10, so as to provide a manipulating-knob or finger-piece to providefor the shifting of the adjustable holdingguide 4laterally to anydesired position within the range of. its adjustment between the fixedholding-guide 4 and the oppositely-located machine-rail 3.

In the practical construction of the card or sheet platen theholding-guides 4 4 are arranged over the printing portion thereof, so

as to facilitate the insertion of the card or sheet from the front edgeof the platen, and while the said holding-guides4:4 may be variouslyformed or constructed without depart ing from the spirit or scope of theinvention, still one of the important features of the latter resides inso shaping the guideways of the holding-guides as to render the sameself-adjusting to difierent thicknesses of cards or sheets, as well asforming frictionalself-retainers for holding the work in the printingposition without slipping thereof.

To illustrate a few of the ways in which the combination described canbe successfully effected, reference will be made to severalmodifications of the holding-guides, and inasmuch as the same are ofduplicate construction a description of one guide will suffice.Referring to the form of holding-guide shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive,of the drawings,the same essentially consists of a straight elongatedbody provided at one edge with a guide-way 12, closed at the upper andlower sides thereof to form a complete housing for the edge of the cardor sheet slidably engaged therein, and said guideway preferably is openat both ends and extends the full length of the guide-body to permit ofthe entrance of the individual cards or sheets at one end and theirdisplacement or delivery from the opposite end. At this point it may beobserved that to facilitate the entrance of the individual cards orsheets the guideway preferably terminates short of the front end of theguide-body, and beyond such point the latter is provided with anelevated entranoe-guide 13, of substantially the same form andsubserving the same function as the corresponding entrance-guidedisclosed in the Halle. application aforesaid.

Referring more particularly to the automatic self-adjustment of theholding-guide, this is effected in the form shown in Fig. 7 byconstructing the guide-body respectively of a base-strip 14 and ayielding section or strip 15, arranged in superimposed relation to thebase-strip 14 and preferably formed of spring sheet material havingsufficient resiliency to permit of the holding thereof under thepressure occasioned by different thicknesses of cards or sheets whichmay be placed in the guideway 12. In the form being described theguideway12 is preferably provided with a suitable interiorguiding-shoulder 16 to prevent the lateral displacement of the card orsheet while it is being slipped through the guides or while beingprinted upon, and obviously the guiding-shoulder 16 might be produced inany suitable way and might be provided upon the base strip or section 14or upon the yielding section 15 without affecting the result to beaccomplished. Whatever the disposition of the guiding-shoulder may bethe free edge of the yielding section or strip 15 projects beyond thesame, so as to be capable of freely moving toward. and from thecontiguous edge of the base strip or section 14.. At the edge oppositethe guideway 12 the yielding strip or section 15 is held-fast or rigidto the base section or strip 14 by means of a suitable fastening, and inthe construction shown the said yielding section or strip 15 is providedthroughout its length with a plurality of openings 17, which make thespring action of the yielding section or strip 15 sufficiently delicateto permit of the free slipping of the cards or sheets through theguides, while at the same time exerting a sufficient pressure thereon toact as a retainer for holding the card or sheet in position while beingprinted upon.

Divers variations of the automatic or selfadjusting guideways may beresorted to, a few additional forms being shown in Figs. 9 to 12,inclusive. In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10 theholding-guide, which is designated in its entirety by thereferencenumber 18, is provided at one edge with a guideway 12 for theedge of the card or sheet and essentially consists of a base member 19and a spring-pressed clip member 20, pivotally mounted intermediate itsside edges upon a suitable pivot 21 and having arranged thereunder apressure-spring 22, which exerts a tension in a direction to hold thehead of the clip member, constituting a part of the guide member 12pressed toward the contiguous edge of the base member 19. Thisconstruction necessarily permits of the automatic or self-adjustment ofthe guide to accommodate different thicknesses of work, while at thesame time constituting a retainer or holding means for the work.

The construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12 involves the forming of theholding-guide from a folded spring-metal body 23, the free edges ofwhich are arranged in superposed relation to form the guideway 12 forthe edges of the card or sheet. This construction also obviously permitsof the automatic expansion and contraction of the guideway 12 toaccommodate different thicknesses of cards or sheets, as well as servingas an automatic retaining means for holding the card or sheet in aprinting position.

Many other equivalent modifications may be resorted to.

In carrying out the invention there is associated with theholding-guides means for locating the work accurately in the guidewaysat the proper printing-point, and the present invention contemplates theemployment of a stop or stop device of a disappearing form which willautomatically move to an inoperative plane out of the way after a cardor sheet has been arrested in its writing position by the said stop orstop device. While various embodiments of such a stop may be utilized incarrying out the invention, still a preferable construction is shown inthe drawings and essentially consists in the employment of one oraplurality of stopelements 24,

designed to be thrust to an active interfering position with referenceto the inserted ICO IIO

card or sheet and also adapted to automatically seek an inoperativeplane out of the way when released, so that there will be no obstructionto the printed card or sheet being moved beyond the printing area.

In the construction shown in the drawings the stop element or elements24 are illus trated as being controlled in connection with arocker-support 25 in the form of a rockshaft extending transverselybeneath the platen and journaled in suitable bearings 26, saidrock-shaft being fitted at one end with a crank-arm 27, to which ispivotally jointed one end of an actuating-lever 28. This actuating-lever28 is shown as pivotally sup ported intermediate its ends, as at 29,beneath the platen and has an angled front end portion 30, extendingthrough a slot 31 in the front part of the platen, preferably contiguousto one corner thereof, and bearing an operators key 32, which isdepressed by the operator when it is desired to rock the shaft orsupport 25 in adirection for thrusting the element or elements 24 to anactive position with reference to the inserted card or sheet.

While the stop element or elements 24 may be of any desired form, asshown in the drawings, each of the same preferably consists of a doublesliding collar 33 and an angled arresting-finger 34, having an upturnedtip 35, preferably formed with a thin top edge or point 36. The doublecollar 33 of each stop element 24 slidably engages with a rocker supportor shaft 25 and also with a guide-rod 37, arranged in parallelism withthe said support or shaft 25 and carried by the supportingarms 38,mounted upon the support or shaft 25 and offset from one side of thesame, so that the guide-rod 37 will swing in unison with the rockingmovement of the support. A plurality of the stop elements 24 arepreferably employed, although the same are individually adjustable andcapable of being slid to any position with reference to the printingarea between the holding-guides 4 4, according to the size or shape ofthe card or sheet, or all of the said stop elements 24 may be arrangedto abut, so that the upturned tips 35 thereof will lie side by side toconstitute a stopflange or wall for the card or sheet should .such anarrangement of the stops-be found desirable in connection with anyparticular kind of Work. I

The stop element or elements are so arranged with reference to theplaten that normally the same will be disposed out of the way andpreferably below the writing-surface of the platen; but uponmanipulating the key 32 the stop element or elements will be,moved to aposition which causes their upturned tips or active portions 35 toproject above the plane of the writing-s11 rface of the platen andbeyond the printing area between the holding-guides, so that when a cardor sheet is inserted into said guides and moved backward upon the platenthe same will engage with the stop element or elements and be arrestedthereby in the proper printing position. In the construction shown thestop element or'elements will drop automatically by gravity to aninactive position, although the same obviously could be caused todisappear by manual or other means, the essential feature being that thestop element or elements must move out of the Way to permit of the cardor sheet being pushed from its writing position to a point beyond oroutside of the temporary printing area. It is therefore within thepurview of the invention to provide various modifications of the stopdevice, so long as the essential features noted are preserved.

In the practical use of a platen equipped with the improvementsdescribed there is usually associated therewith means for turning thework face downward after being printed upon and displaced from theprinting area; but as the means for accomplishing this result arebroadly covered in the aforesaid Halle application, Serial No. 732,921,no claim is made, broadly, thereto in the present application. However,there is shown in the drawings a novel form of card or work trip whichmay constitute a part of the platen equipment. This trip and itsmounting may be briefly referred to as follows: The trip for turning thework is associated with the dropopening 37 through which the printedcards or sheets fall, and the trip member essentially consists of atrip-ledge'38 provided with an upstanding back '39, extendingtransversely across the platen beneath the plane of the drop-opening 37.This trip device differs from that claimed in the Halle application inthe addition of the upstanding back 39, which constitutes a stop toarrest the card or sheet in proper position to be tripped or turned. Thetrip or trip-ledge 38 is provided atits end edges with supportingflanges or ribs 40, slidably engaging guide-grooves 41 at the under sideof the platen, thus permitting the trip or trip-ledge to be adjusted toand from the plane of theholding-guides for varying the size of thedrop-openings 37 to suit the size of the card or sheet. In theconstruction shown the trip or trip-ledge 38 is held stationary in theadjusted position by bowed holding-springs 42, fitted intermediate theirends to supporting-studs 43, projecting from the ends of the trip ortrip-ledge. The terminals ofthese springs frictionally bear against theunder side of the platen.

As a part of the platen equipment the invention also contemplates theprovision of improved machine-stops for arresting the machine-frame orprinting mechanism in position for the first line of writing withoutstopping to locate the line by the use of the linespacer, line-finder,or the shifting of the machine.

The preferable type of stops and the preferable arrangement thereof areshown in the drawings, the same being placed on the trackrails ormachine-guides 3 at a point in rear of the temporary printing area, sothat when the machine or traveling printing mechanism is slid to therear after several lines on'a card or sheet have been written themachine or printing mechanism will be accurately located in position forwriting on the first line of the new or succeeding card or sheet. Incarrying out the invention a pair of the stops (designated by thereference-number 50) is preferably employed, and, as shown in thedrawings, each of the stops essentially consists of a stop-blockprovided in its under side with a groove 5i, conforming in shape andtransverse dimensions to a track-rail or guide 3, so as to permit thestop-block to have a neat fit over the said rail or guide when pressedupon the adjacent top portion of the platen.

Each stop-block 51 is further provided with a longitudinally-disposedslot 52, adapted to receive therein a fastening-screw or screwbolt 53,adapted to engage in any one of a series of threaded adjustment-holes 5L, formed in the platen alongside of the rail or guide on which the stopor stop-block is fitted, said adjustment-holes 54, in connection withthe fastening-screw or screw-bolt 53, providing means for locating thestop or stop-block in different planes when a more extensive adjustmentis required than can be accomplished through the medium of the adjustingdevice 55, with which each stop-block is equipped. This adjusting device55 of each stop-block is preferably in the form of a screw Whose head isdisposed at one end of the block and projects into the plane of thetrack-grooves 51, so as to engage in the notches or between the teeth ofthe track-rail 3. After the positioning of the stop-block 50, and withthe fastening-screw 53 thereof loosened, it will be obvious that byturning the head of the adjusting-screw 55 while said head is engagedwith a notch of a track-rail the stop-block will necessarily be causedto move to the desired point of adjustment.

The expedient described provides for a nicet-y of adjustment whereby thestop or stop-block may be accurately located precisely in a plane forstopping the machine or printing mechanism in a position for writing onthe first line of a card or sheet. After having obtained the properpositioning andadjustment of the stops or stop-blocks 50 the fastenersor fastening-screws 53 thereof are tightened, so as to firmly clamp thestops upon the rails and the adjacent portion of the platen, and theadjusting-screws 55 are locked against turning by the clamps 56,preferablyin the form of set-screws mounted in the sides of thestop-blocks and adapted to impinge against the screws 55 or the wall ofthe threaded socket in which said screws Work.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described card or sheet platen fortype-writing machines will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart without further description, and it will he understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing anyof the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderdisposed between said tracks or guides, and having holding and guidingmeans adjustable to different thicknesses of work.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderarranged between said tracks or guides and having holdingand guidingmeans automatically adjustable to different thicknesses of work.

3. In atype-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and themain tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a card or sheetholder arranged between said tracks or guides and comprising guidewaysfor the edges of the work, said guideways being adjustable to differentthicknesses of A work.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a card orsheet holder arranged between said tracks or guides, said holdercomprising guideways self-adjustable to different thicknesses of work,and means for holding the same in fixed position.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a card orsheet holder located between said tracks or guides and comprisingguideways for the edges of the work, said guideways having means topermit of self-adjustment'to difierent thicknesses of work.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderlocated between the said tracks or guides and comprising a holding-guideprovided at one edge with a guideway for the work, said guidewayconsisting of superimposed fixed and yielding sections.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe tracks or guides for the traveling machine, of a work-holdercomprising a holding-guide having at one edge a guideway consisting of afixed basesection, and a superimposed yielding springplate sectionforming one of the inclosingwalls of the guideway.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the fiat platen, andthe rails for the traveling printing mechanism, of a workholdercomprising a pair of holding-guides, one of which is arranged in a fixedposition against one of the machine-rails, and the other of which istransversely adjustable within the area between the said fixed guide andthe opposite machine-rail.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a transverseguide-bar arranged at the front edge of the platen, and a pair ofrelatively fixed and adjustable holding-guid es arranged between thesaid tracks or guides, one of said holding-guides having a slidableadjustable connection with said guide-bar.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, ofa longitudivnally-channeled guide-bar arranged at the front edge of theplaten, and relatively fixed and adjustable holding-guides arranged overthe platen, the adjustable guide carrying a slide-stem adjustablyregistering within the guide-bar.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderdisposed between said tracks or guides, and comprising a base-sectionand a superimposed inherently resilient plate forming one of theinclosing walls of the guideway and designed to yield to accommodatework of dilferent thicknesses.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderarranged between said tracks or guides and having at one edge a guidewayconsisting of a fixed base-section, and a superimposed inherentlyresilient yielding section, said resilient section being cut out atintervals.

13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderdisposed between the tracks or guides, said work-holder comprising aholding-guide having at one edge a guideway consisting of abase-section, and a superimposed spring-plate section which isinherently resilient throughout its entire extent to permit a maximumyielding of said plate in immediate proximity to the work.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderlocated between the tracks or guidesand consisting of a base-sectionformed with a longitudinally-disposed shoulder adjacent to one edge, anda superimposed yielding plate-section extended beyond the shoulder andsecured continuously along its opposite longitudinal edge.

15. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, andthe main tracks -or guides for the type-writing machine, of awork-holder disposed between said tracks or guides, said work-holdercomprising a holdopen-work form.

17. In a type-Writing machine, the combi- I nation with a Hat platen andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderdisposed between said tracks or guides for the carriage and comprising aholding-guide having at one edge a guideway consisting of abase-section, and a superimposed yielding spring-plate section ofopen-work form, said spring-plate section being continuously securedalong one longitudinal edge to the base-section.

18. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of awork-holderdisposed between said tracks or guides for the carriage, saidwork-holder comprising a base-section and a resilient top section havinga series of openings.

19.. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and themain tracks or guides for the traveling type-Writing machine,

of a work-holder for the work, and an adjustable disappearing stoparranged to arrest the work at the proper printing position.

20. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and themain tracks or guides for the traveling type-Writing machine, of aWork-holderfor the work, and an adjustable automatically disappearingstop arranged to arrest the work at the proper printing position.

21. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, themain tracks or guides for the traveling machine and a workholder havingguiding means for the work, of a stop located at one'edge of the platenand adjustable transversely with reference to the printing area, andarranged to arrest the work at the proper printing position.

22. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderarranged between the said tracks or guides for the carriage, and a stopdevice comprising a plurality of stop elements arranged to arrest thework at the proper printing position. 7

23. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderarranged between the said tracks or guides, and a stop device comprisinga plurality of adjustable stop elements arranged to arrest the work atthe proper printing position. 4

24. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holderarranged between said tracks or guides, and a stop device comprising aplurality of individually-adjustable stop elements arranged to arrestthe Work at the proper printing position.

25. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen having anedge over which the printed matter falls, of a workholder located infront of said edge, and a disappearing stop adapted to be projectedabove said edge to arrest the work at the proper printing position.

26. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of work-holdingmembers arranged between said tracks or guides, a stop device comprisinga plurality of stop elements adapted to project above thewriting-surface to arrest the work at its proper printing position, anda rocker-support for said stop elements.

27. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-Writing machine, of a work-holderlocated between the said tracks or guides, a stop device comprising aplurality of individually-adjustable stop elements, each consisting of aslidable collar and an an gled arresting-finger, a rocker-supportmountedbeneath the platen, and means for actuating said support to project thestop elements above the writing-surface of the platen, for the purposeof arresting the work at the proper printing position.

28. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and themain tracks or guides for the traveling type-writing machine, of a stopadjustable transversely with respect to the platen and capable of beingmoved into and out of the path of the work disposed above thewriting-surface, whereby the work may be arrested at the proper printingposition and may thereafter be moved beyond such position.

29. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of a work-holdercomprising a pair of holding-guides located between the track-rails orguides for the carriage, and substantially coextensive longitudinallywith the writing-surface, one of said holding-guides being transverselyadjustable within the area defined between the adjacent machine-rail andthe other holding-guide, and a stop located at the rear end of theprinting area and transversely adjustable with respect to the platen.

30. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the fiat platen, andthe main tracks or guides for the type-writin g machine,

of a work-holder comprising a pair of holding-guides located between thetrack-rails or guides for the carriage, and substantially coextensivelongitudinally with the writing-surface, one of said holding-guidesbeing transversely adjustable within the area defined between theadjacent niachine-rail and the other holding'guide, and a stop locatedat the rear end of the writing-surface and movable to positions bothabove and below the writing-surface.

31. In a type-writing machine, the combi nation with the flat platen,and the main tracks or guides for the type-writing machine, of awork-holder comprising a pair of bolding-guides located between thetrack-rails or guides for the carriage and substantially coextensivelongitudinally withthe writing-surface, one of said holding-guides beingtransversely adjustable within the area defined between the adjacentmachinerail and the other holding-guide, and a stop transverselyadjustable with respect to the platen and movable to positions bothabove and below the writing-so rface.

32. A fiat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingfor the printed card or sheet, a work-holder having guides leading tosaid opening, an adjustable tripledge arranged beneath the opening andtransversely of the platen,said trip-ledge having a slidable connectionat its ends with the platen, and slidable spring-retaining devices forholding the trip-ledge stationary in the adjusted position.

33. A platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-opening forthe printed card or sheet, a trip-ledge arranged to turn the printedcard or sheet face downward, and a stop member projecting above theplane of the trip-ledge to arrest the card or sheet in proper positionto be tripped or turned.

34. A fiat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingfor the printed card or sheet, and a trip-ledge disposed to effect thereversal of the card or sheet dropped into the drop-opening, saidtrip-ledge being provided with an upstanding back located at the rearedge of the ledge to constitute a stop member for arresting the card inproper position to be tripped or turned.

85. A flat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingto receive the printed card or'sheet, an adjustable trip element, andfrictional retaining means for holding the trip element in its adjustedpositions.

36. A flat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingto receive the printed card or sheet, an adjustable trip element, andyielding retaining means engaging the platen to hold the trip element inits adjusted positions.

37. A fiat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingto receive the printed cardor sheet, an adjustable trip element, andholding-springs carried at the ends IIO of the adjustable trip elementand bearing against the under side of the platento retain said elementin its adjusted positions.

38. A flat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingand having guiding-grooves, a trip-ledge provided 'withsupportingflanges slidably engaging the guide-grooves in the platen, andfrictional retaining means for holding the trip-ledge in its adjustedpositions. v

39. A flat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingand having guide-grooves at its under side, a trip-ledge disposedtransversely of the platen and having supporting-flanges engaging theguidegrooves, and retaining-springs carried by the opposite ends of thetrip-ledge and frictionally engaging the under side of the platen tohold the trip-ledge in its adjusted positions.

40. A flat platen for type-writing machines provided with a drop-openingto receive the printed card or sheet, an adjustable tripledge disposedbelow the opening, and holding-springs fixedly connected intermediate oftheir ends with the ends of the trip-ledge and bearing against the underside of the platen to hold the trip-ledge in its adjusted positions.

41. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and thetrack-rails, of

stop-blocks having grooves fitting the rails,

adjusting-screws whose heads project into the plane of the grooves andengage between the teeth of the track-rails.

42. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, and thetrack-rails, of machine-stops arranged upon the rails in a position forarresting the backward movement of the machine or printing mechanism,each stop comprising a block, an adjustingscrew'mounted in the block,and engaging between the' teeth of a rail, a clamping device for saidadjusting-screw, and afasteningscrew engaging with the block and havingan adjustable mounting upon the platen.

43. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the flat platen, andthe trackrails, of a machine-stop, an adjustable device for retainingthe machine-stop at different points but permitting limited independentmovement of the stop, and an adjusting device for positively moving thestop to effect a nice adjustment thereof within such restricted limitsof movement.

44. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen, and thetrack-rails for the traveling machine, of a slotted machinestopassociated with a rail, an adjustable member engaging the slot in thestop to retain the latter within prescribed limits of movement, and anadjusting member engaging the stop and rail, respectively, toposidownward, and a stop member to arrest the card or sheet in properposition to be tripped or turned.

46. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of atrip-ledge arranged to turn a printed card or sheet face downward, and astop member projected above the plane of the trip-ledge to arrest thecard or sheet in proper position to be turned.

47. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of atrip-ledge arranged to turn a printed card or sheet face downward andadjustable to trip cards or sheets of different sizes, and a stop memberlocated in a plane above the trip-ledge to arrest the card or sheetinproper position to be tripped.

48. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of atrip-ledge ar ranged to turn a.printed card or sheet face downward, andprovided with a stop member to arrest the card or sheet in properposition to be tripped or turned, said ledge and stop member beingadjustable in unison.

49. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and acard-guide, of a trip-ledge disposed to turn face downward a card orsheet discharged from the cardguide, and a stop member for arresting thecard or sheet in proper position to be turned.

50. In .a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, anda card-guide, of

a trip-ledge adjustable toward and from the.

end of the card-guide and arranged to turn a printed card or sheet facedownward, and a stop member to arrest the card or sheet in properposition to be tripped or turned.

51. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and acard-guide, of a trip-ledge and a stop member adjustable in unison withrespect to the end of the guide and arranged to turn a printed card orsheet face downward.

52. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, and acard-guide, of a stop member disposed beyond the end of the guide tofacilitate the stacking of the discharged cards by arresting them at thesame point.

In testimony-that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN F. ECKERT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. HALLE, I. F. KEITH.

